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Monday, March 13, 2017

Book Review: The Chilbury Ladies' Choir by Jennifer Ryan

The best wartime stories don’t necessarily take place on the
battlefield. The home front can weave a
rich tapestry, especially in the competent hands of author Jennifer Ryan. The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir is the
charming tale of what happens to the women in the fictional village of Chilbury,
England, in early WWII after most of the men leave for war. The story takes
place from March to September 1940; the action precipitated by a notice from
the vicar on the church door. Since all the male singers are gone, he disbanded
the choir. After all, who wants to listen to a group composed of only women? It
just isn’t done.

The vicar’s action triggers unexpected uproar in the members,
as if the sudden decision ripped the last shred of normalcy from their lives. The
battle in Europe isn’t going well; the fate of loved ones overseas is unknown. Under
the prodding of the choir mistress and music teacher, the women decide the
choir must not only continue, but also serve as a morale booster to those left
behind, a distraction from the horrors of war. So they change their name to The
Chilbury Ladies’ Choir and gamely carry on. This simple act of defiance from
women used to toeing the line causes a ripple of unexpected consequences. War
doesn’t only leave a mark on soldiers. It can also change their families and,
in the case of this novel, for the better.

Ryan created an engaging cast of characters. The book is a
first person account, but not from the same person. The story progresses using
a compilation of notes, letters, journal entries, and assorted postings from
choir members and a few others. Each writer sees the action from a different
viewpoint, but this is entertaining rather than confusing. While the story
isn’t a heavy handed drama, there is spectacle galore; deaths, births,
kidnapping, falling in and out of love, not to mention a little wartime
intrigue. It’s all done with charm, cheek, and gentle good humor. Each
character speaks with an engaging voice; not an easy task when an author is
working with a range of ages from 13 to about 60.

The change in a few of the characters is a bit of stretch,
but that’s a minor quibble and didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel. I
highly recommend The Chilbury Ladies’
Choir. If I have one complaint it’s that the story ends after a few months.
Within that short period of time everyone gets their just reward (or due
comeuppance). I enjoyed my visit to Chilbury and hated to leave the villagers behind.
Although Ryan doesn’t say, I like to think they came safely through the war and
both happy days and the choir lasted ever after.